Chasing The Northern Lights in Tromsø Norway

In Norway, Travel inspiration by JurgaLAST UPDATED: May 27, 2020This post may contain affiliate links, which means that we may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. More info: Disclosure.

Tromsø’s unique location over 300km North of the Arctic Circle in Norway and stable mild weather makes it one of the best places to see Northern Lights in the world. Many people I met in Tromsø told me that seeing the Northern Lights was the ultimate dream and the main reason to visit Northern Norway in winter. But what to expect and what to know before you go aurora hunting in Tromsø? Find out!

Before we continue with the Northern Lights, I just want to say that there are so many more reasons to visit Tromsø in winter. Seeing auroras is a wonderful experience, but Tromsø region has a lot more to offer. You can read all about it in our previous post – Best things to do in Tromsø in winter.

And now back to chasing the Northern Lights in Tromsø…

When is the best time of the year to see the Northern Lights in Tromso?

Generally speaking, the best time to see the Northern Lights in Tromso is from mid September to April.

You may get lucky and see auroras even at the very end of August or mid April. But if you want to increase your chances, it’s probably best to come between October and March.

Northern Lights tours in Tromsø are bookable from the 15th of September until the 15th of April. So it’s a good indication that the chances are probably still quite high as early as mid September and as late as mid April (see below for more information).

Northern Lights are an ever-changing spectacle

What is the best spot to see Northern Lights in Tromsø (and can you see auroras in town)?

The best way to see the Northern Lights is to go to a place where there is no light pollution. So ideally you travel far outside the city. That being said, sometimes auroras are really strong and it is possible to see the Northern Lights in town as well.

If you are in Tromso on a cloudless evening, one of the best places to go aurora hunting is up the mountain which can be reached by Fjellheisencable car. If you are lucky, it will be an amazing spectacle as the views from there are simply stunning.

What time of the day can you see the Northern Lights?

Our Northern Light tour guides told us that usually the best chances of seeing auroras near Tromso are late in the evening towards midnight. But you never know – sometimes you can see them as early as 6 PM or as late as 6 AM, or they can be dancing the whole night too. So as long as it’s dark, keep looking.

How big are the chances to see the Northern Lights in Tromsø?

As I already said, Tromso is one of the best places to see Northern Lights in the world. You need dark skies without (too many) clouds in order to see the auroras. So if it’s really cloudy and snowing, it might be difficult.

On the other hand, Tromso has relatively stable weather. So if you are in the area for at least 3-4 days in winter, you should be able to catch the auroras at least once.

Our Northern Lights tour guides said that there are very few nights when they don’t get to see at least some auroras. However, you won’t easily see them in town, so you need to go looking for them. And if you don’t know where to start, it might be wiser to join a guided tour (see further below).

The chances of seeing auroras near Tromso are really high

Where can I find aurora forecast for Tromsø?

There are several websites where you can check aurora forecast for Tromso. But our local guides said that they aren’t that trustworthy and certainly not if you check more than a few hours in advance.

Local guides said that they see auroras practically every cloudless night in winter. So it’s more a matter of looking for a place with no light pollution and no clouds rather than following an aurora forecast.

What to wear when chasing the Northern Lights?

What to wear when hunting for the Northern Lights will depend a bit on how you are planning to do it. Small group tours provide thermal suits, whereas if you go on a big bus tour on your own, you’ll have to do with your own clothing (for more explanation, please also see the comparison between the tours below). In any case, you have to dress really warm.

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Can I see the Northern Lights without a tour?

Yes, of course, you can see the Northern Lights in Tromso without taking an organized tour. If you have a car, make sure to check the weather forecast (local cloud radar would be the most useful to keep an eye on) and look for a nice dark place outside of town.

You can also drive to several places on the same night. But if there are no clouds and you found a nice open spot with good visibility in all directions, you can just as well stay there and wait. If the aurora is visible that night, you will see it.

It might be a bit tricky to find the best spots and optimal conditions if you don’t know the area very well, but it’s definitely something you can also do on your own.

What are the best Northern Light tours in Tromso?

There are over 40 (!) different Northern Lights tours in Tromsø, so it might be difficult to decide which tour to choose. Before my trip, I was convinced that small group tours are better as they are more flexible, but my experience shows that it doesn’t really matter. Further below, you can find more information on big-group tours vs. small-group tours. But first – my personal experience.

I joined two different aurora tours on two connective nights in Tromsø. The first night I went on a small group tour with a minibus (8 people). It was a very cloudy night and the chances of seeing auroras were very slim. There was just one area where the weather radar showed fewer clouds and so every single tour company in town drove to that same area that night. In the end, the clouds parted a little bit and we got to see a rather weak aurora. It didn’t really matter which tour company you went with – everyone was at the same place and everybody got to see pretty much the same.

The second night the skies were clear and so the chances of seeing the auroras were much bigger. That night I was traveling on a big group Northern Lights bus tour (there were two busses actually). They brought us to a beautiful remote beach that was so big that people just scattered in all directions and nobody disturbed anyone. I saw several small group tours on the same beach that night as well. We were lucky to see the most amazing aurora display that lasted for several hours. Once again – it didn’t really matter which tour you were on.

Contrary to what I expected, I preferred this big bus Northern Lights tour. It was extremely well organized and had everything I needed. It provided me with comfortable transportation to the place where the chances to see auroras were best for that night.

There were guides to answer all my questions and people to hang around and chat with if I felt like. At the same time, I was free to do my own thing and had the freedom to go where I wanted, take pictures, and never had the pressure to join the group when I didn’t feel like.

But if you are less interested in photography and more in the experience, then a small group tour is probably more special. In that case, I recommend this highly rated aurora tour. After all, there are few experiences that can compare to roasting marshmallows and chatting by the bonfire with the Northern Lights dancing above you…

This Northern Lights display lasted for several hours

Northern Lights tours comparison – small group vs. big bus

As I said, your chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Tromsø are pretty much the same, no matter which tour you choose. That doesn’t mean that small-group and big bus tours are identical. Not at all!

Below you can find my observations as to the main differences between the small group and big bus Northern Light tours in Tromsø.

What to expect on a SMALL GROUP Northern Lights tours in Tromsø

Thermal suit is included.

They put up a bonfire and serve a warm meal (soup, some local specialty, or sausages that you can bake – depends on the tour). They also offer some warm drinks and some cookies. Our tour guide had a bag of marshmallows we could roast by the fire. Sitting by the bonfire in winter is a nice experience and something extra to keep yourself busy while waiting for the Northern Lights.

Small group tours usually also have tripods available and the tour guide will help you with the camera settings to help you get a good picture of the Northern Lights. Most guides also take pictures with their own camera. The pictures are offered to you for free after the tour.

In general, small group tours last a bit longer (7-8 hrs), they drop you off at your hotel after the tour.

If the weather is really bad and the chances of seeing the auroras are very slim, they usually contact you in order to reschedule the tour.

Small group tours are of course more expensive than the big bus tours, but you also get more for your money. The price differences are quite big between the tours, so keep this in mind. Here are two tours that seem to be offering the best price/ quality ratio at the moment: Northern Lights photography tour and this highly-rated small group aurora tour.

TIP:book your Northern Light tour in advance. When I was in Tromsø in the first week of March, all the small group tours were fully booked for the nights when the weather was good (also because they rescheduled people from the previous nights and those who booked in advance, of course, got priority). If the tours above are fully booked, try searching for more tours here.

Toasting bread by the bonfire on a small group northern lights tour

What to expect on the Northern Lights BUS TOURS in Tromsø

Big bus Northern Lights tours are extremely well organized. Bus tours have a somewhat stricter schedule, so they are less flexible in terms of staying longer. On the other hand, it might be an advantage as well – they will not go back to town earlier just because one or two people decide that they had enough.

They have dedicated guides who don’t drive and therefore have the time to tell you more about the Northern Lights and answer any questions you may have.

The guides are usually also experienced photographers who help everybody with the settings of their cameras, answer questions, etc. They also have their cameras available to take pictures of you. One big difference is that you don’t get these pictures for free. After the tour you receive a link to their website where you can view and purchase the images if you want to. It’s not cheap, but it’s not something that is obligatory either. However, if you want a really nice souvenir from a memorable night, the guides will make sure to get a really nice picture for you. I found that they try really hard and all the pictures I saw after the bus tour were of excellent quality (see mine below).

Big group tours don’t offer thermal suits. However, they always keep the bus warm and people who want to can just stay on the bus and only come outside when there is something to see. I spent hours outside and it wasn’t that cold at all. You just need to be dressed right for the cold. Check our winter packing list for Norway.

They also offer all kinds of warm drinks and cookies on the bus, so you can always warm up with a cup of hot chocolate or tea.

The main big advantage of the big bus tour is that they have toilets on the bus, which may be very useful for a 5-7hr tour, especially if traveling with children.

From what I understood, big bus tours don’t offer free cancelation in case the weather isn’t great. They still go and do their best to see the auroras. If you don’t see the Northern Lights the first night, usually you can book a tour for the next night at half the price.

TIP: Here you can book the big bus aurora photography tour that I did. One thing I found rather interesting is that the tour company I went with – Northern Shots – offers an unlimited 7-day aurora pass option as well. It means that you can join their tours on any of the 7 consecutive days in a row. At the moment such pass costs about twice the price of the single tour. So if you are in Tromsø for several days and seeing the Northern Lights is very high on your bucket list, I would really consider this option.

Northern Lights tours in combination with other activities

Since the days are short in the Arctic in winter, many companies offer a wide range of activities that can be done in the evening.

You can choose to go dog sledding, reindeer sledding, and many other tours at night. If you are lucky, you will also get to see the Northern Lights during one of these tours.

However, in these cases you are not flexible in terms of the location. It can be an amazing experience, but it is not really comparable to booking a dedicated aurora tour where they drive to places where the chances of seeing the auroras are highest for that specific night.

Comments

No, minibusses don’t have toilets. When you take an aurora tour with a minibus, they’ll usually do their best to stop at a petrol station or somewhere similar at least once or twice during the evening. In general, most tours take 4-6 hours and so one stop is usually sufficient. Don’t drink too much tea and you’ll likely be ok the whole evening anyway. 😉

Hi Hay, yes, small-group aurora tours like this one do provide thermal suits. Big-bus tours don’t, but usually you can stay inside the warm bus while waiting for auroras to show up… But, of course, you should be wearing other warm clothes of your own in any case. Thermal suit is great, but it’s not enough if you are not wearing warm winter clothing. For practical examples, please refer to our guide on what to pack for Norway in winter.

Hi Jurga, Very nice information. We are planning on going to Tromoso end of Jan 2020. After reading your blog I feel we can even do it in Feb 2020. Is it better to book the tours well in advance. we are planning on staying in Tromoso for four days and then take a ferry to Lapland of Finland for three days and stay in Igollo for a night to see the northern lights. Reason being we are flying all the way from Sydney we thought of finishing Santa’s land also. We have already seen the midnight sun in Norway and also from Finland

Hi Usha, if your travel dates are flexible, then I think February is a bit better indeed. You’ll have a bit more daylight to enjoy outdoor activities. While you don’t have to book activities too far in advance, I’d certainly book your Tromso hotels asap. I also recommend booking tours that you really want to do. If you book Tromso tours that we link to in this post, you can still cancel (most of) them up to 24hrs in advance, whereas if you don’t book, you risk that some of them will be sold out. That’s especially the case for dog sledding and the Northern Lights tours. Enjoy your trip! It sounds like it’s going to be an amazing winter adventure!

Glad to find this site, detailed information and very helpful. We will visit Tromso in the first week of March too, may I know how early you book the small group tour? We are worried that it’s too soon to book the tour without weather forecast, while I find some tours are already fully booked. Thanks!

Hi Musetta, I also visited Tromso in the first week of March. Many tours were fully booked and I couldn’t go on a small group aurora tour one night due to that. The problem is that everyone waits to see the forecast and then if it’s somewhat favourable, they all start booking tours. Small group tours sell out, sometimes a few days in advance. This was also the case for dog sledding, for example, as it’s less weather-dependant, so people book it upfront as well. What I advice to do instead is book tours that have 24 hr free cancelation policy (most tours we suggest on our site do). Then, in case the weather looks really bad, just cancel it at least 24hrs in advance. Hope this helps.

Quite high, actually. All you need is darkness, clear skies, and high aurora activity. Cruise ships usually offer plenty of chances to see auroras as you are sailing in the dark the whole night and pass so many different areas that there are bound to be some places with no cloud coverage at the right time. Fingers crossed for you! Enjoy your trip!

Your posts are lovely and I am glad I stumbled on them when looking for information arounf travel to Tromso.

What I am unable to figure out is what sort of budget would be sensible for two adults and a teenager for food? Also we are vegetarians? Is it better I look into packing some food on my travel to TRomso?

Hi Divya, it’s really hard for me to advise on the budget as everyone travels differently and so much depends on your restaurant choice… Here you can find some examples of how much (including food) costs in Norway, so maybe this will help a bit. I wouldn’t worry about finding vegetarian food, it’s really not an issue in Scandinavia.

I am lucky that i discovered your blog. I loved the posts about Tromsø. I want to book flight tickets to Tromsø as a bday gift for my boyfriend. Your posts helped me a lot to decide that Tromsø is the ideal choice for nothern light. Since i am planning on a rather small budget 🙁 Question to all of you and especially to Alina : you wrote you went to great places by rent car by yourself. Could you name us a few? A street? A place a beach?

I calculated the expenses and I cannot afford a guided tour 🙁 Thanks in adavance for reply. Yours Sophia

Hi Sophia, I don’t think Alina will answer to you as she probably won’t see this (readers don’t get notification about the comments, only I do). I’d say try not to overthink it. Your best bet is to stay a bit outside the city where the chances of light pollution are smaller. I assume you’ll rent a car? Then just check the weather forecast (best some kind of weather radar that shows clouds) and head to a place that has least chances for clouds for that night. It’s not about a specific place to be, it’s about being in a dark place with no clouds. And then just wait. You can always ask at your accommodation for people to recommend a nice desolate place nearby (based on the forecast). There are so many beautiful landscapes around Tromso where you can sit and wait for auroras (make sure to dress warm). If you don’t rent a car and stay in Tromso itself, then it becomes a bit more tricky. You can only see auroras in town if they are extremely bright. The best place to watch auroras in Tromso is by taking Fjellheisen cable car to the top of the mountain. It’s also not cheap though, but such a nice thing to do, the views are amazing. Hope this helps a bit.

thank you for providing me with tips. I really want to rent a car for the trip to be more flexibel. Was is save /or difficult to drive on snowed roads? I couldnt find well connected public transportation like bus or so to go around. so I thought having a car would be cheaper. Did you also explore the areas around Tromso?

Hi again Sophia, I didn’t drive in Tromso in winter. I visited the city and did tours from there. You can read about my trip here: best things to do in Tromso in winter. Every time I went on a tour, whether it was dog sledding, reindeer sledding, Tromso Ice Domes, or aurora tour, it was always quite far from town. I was really glad that I didn’t have to drive. The roads were covered in ice. Locals drove 80km/h as if it was nothing, but if it was me, I think I wouldn’t have driven more than 40km/h and would have been terrified… And in general visibility was good as the weather was mostly dry during my visit. I can’t imagine driving there in a snow storm or in the mist. I don’t want to scare you, as you really never know how the roads will be… Just be aware of this and don’t over-plan your days, leave enough time to get to places. Also keep in mind that the days are short.

Great advice, thank you. My wife and I will be in Tromso for 4 nights, starting October 18th. So many of the “tour” companies want our business and all pretty much offer the same thing. We would prefer a small tour rather a big bus. How do we choose which company to go with??

I honestly think it doesn’t matter that much. I did two tours, small and big group, and actually enjoyed the big bus tour more. (Which was completely opposite to what I expected.) All the companies try to give you the best experience, it’s the little extras that make the difference. Some will give you a thermal suit (most small group tours do), some will give you warm soup, others will let you fry a sausage, or some other meal, etc. But in terms of seeing the auroras themselves, they all look at the forecast and try to find the best suitable place for that specific night. You can find and book some tours on Viator and GetYourGuide. Try to read the reviews are and see if something catches your attention.

The pictures were 350 NOK each (around 36 EUR). Not cheap for sure, but the good thing is that you can decide after you see how the picture turned out. I guess it’s all relative; if you’d hire a professional photographer for any job, it would cost many times more.

Hi Marilee, I don’t remember the exact location for sure now (because we didn’t drive there ourselves but went with a tour). But I think it was a beach next to the road Fv.304 a few kilometres past Hansnes where the road makes a sharp turn. Just keep in mind that it was the best location for auroras chosen for that specific night based on the weather radar and aurora forecast for the area. What you need in order to see the Northern Lights is a clear sky with no clouds and ideally an open space with good visibility in all directions. You can always call one or the other aurora company when you’re in town and ask which areas have the biggest chances for that night. Good luck chasing auroras in Tromso next winter!

Amazing photos! I’m planning to visit a friend in Tromso this coming September and I’m so glad that in that month I will able to witness that beautiful Northern Lights. It will be the best memorable trip of my life. Thanks for sharing this.

Iceland in winer is a truly amazing experience too! But as far as the weather goes, yes, Tromso is much more stable. Icelandic weather is changing all the time… So if you don’t see the auroras there, you know where to go next 😉

I completely agree with the comment about the forecast – I visited Tromso 3 weeks ago and we saw auroras every night we left the city to escape light pollution (cable car is possible, but then anyway stronger aurora is needed). Even when it was showing that current KP index is 1, we saw amazing auroras dancing in the sky! An absolute dream come true! We didn’t book any tours, just rented a car, googled for the best aurora spots and went ourselves (and saw many tour buses with people grilling something!).

Thanks for sharing your experience, Alina. That’s indeed in line with what I experienced and heard from the guides. Just go and look for auroras every winter night in Tromso and the chances are very high that you’ll get lucky.

Thank your for all these tips! I’ve been to the Tromsø before, but it was during the summer and we saw the midnight sun – also a great spectacle! Would love to go back in the winter now though and see the northern lights like you!!

As I said, photography is my hobby. So much that I spent the whole evening outside and didn’t even get to the bathrooms 🙂 I did go back to the bus for some hot chocolate and cookies though :))). But it is really good to have the guides who can help you with the camera settings, and all aurora tours in Tromso seem to offer this guidance. Everyone who had a decent camera and a tripod got some good pictures I think – the guides were really helping out.

Of course, Bruna! The only risk you have is that the batteries run empty quickly, so I always carry a spare battery and keep it close to my body in an inside pocket. In case of hunting for Northern Lights in Tromso it’s not even that cold really as the climate is very mild there. The coldest I had in Tromso was -6°C (21F), so nothing to fear when it comes to camera equipment.

I think it is a big big difference between the big and small tour groups offering you the photos for free. Your photos are incredible. Or are they ones that you took? If so do you have special equipment do that?

Hi Tanya, yes, indeed if you want to have nice pictures and know nothing about photographing the Northern Lights then it’s really nice to have the pictures that small group tours offer for free. Photography is my hobby though, so I rather take the pictures myself. I’m one of those people who enjoy the aurora more if they can play with the camera trying to get some nice shots rather than sit by the fire and just watch it. 🙂 As for the pictures in this post, yes, I took all of them myself, except for that one picture that the guide from Northern Shots Tours took for me. You can never take that kind of picture of yourself without the external help and those guides are professional photographers who do it every night, so they know what they do. As for the equipment you need, check this post that has more tips for aurora photography.

Welcome!

Hi, I’m Jurga. A traveler with a camera and a mom of three boys. On this blog, I share our family's travel experiences all over the world, coupled with lots of practical information and useful tips. My pictures will inspire you to discover new destinations and my stories will prove that you can take your kids anywhere.Join us as we discover the world one beautiful adventure at a time! Here you can read more about me, my family, and our trips all over the world...